A question on Networking - Screenplay submission Process.

Hey, fellow RJers, how's it going? I'm writing this thread to ask some of your advices/tips on screenplay submission/networking. Basically, I finished my first feature script (it's a cute coming of age/drama/gay/summer-romance film). So far, been asking friends around and they say either enter in a competition or ask around.

So far, I contacted TLA Releasing, Frameline and OutFest - TLA Releasing is just looking to distribute new gay films (they mentioned that there is a demand for gay films but not a lot of independent stuff are made now due to the economy.) - FrameLine and OutFest - well, their deadlines passed and I was looking at their fund-grant program (it's pretty low). Hm, the feature I wrote is lengthy and may cost a good amount of money to make. In my circles, I know a music video producer and an indie director (seem like they are both busy and don't want to help). One of my friend mentioned Here Gay TV - wonder if they fund new screenwriters?

Do any of you know any good Gay-Screenplay Contest or Gay-Producers/Studios or whoever that I should look up, learn more and contact? I'm excited about this process and hopefully my screenplay will go into production and be made soon. I know a friend who know another friend who know another friend/people in the industry - I prob. will email and ask him to help. Other tips and routes would be great, too.

I don't know much about the gay niche market, but it seems like your best bet would be to get your screenplay into the hands of a boutique agency, and work from there to find an indie production house that specializes in gay films. Which means hobnobbing with the right people, getting your name and your screenplay into as many hands as possible. As far as networking goes, it's easiest from within -- do you work in film? You're in San Fran, so you're a little far from where the action is, but not too far.

Don't think that anybody is going to steal your screenplay. I've never read it, but I'm going to say this -- it's not God's Gift to Filmmaking. Scripts like that don't exist. There's no reason to obsessively protect it, aside from registering it with the WGA. Even if it's the most brilliant screenplay anybody has ever read, it's easier and cheaper to just buy the script from you than to steal it.

My questions: do you work in the industry? Who do you know? How long have you been paying your dues?

As to "getting your film into production and made soon," your film won't start shooting for another year and a half. And that's if you're extraordinarily lucky.

I don't know anything about contests. That being said, I don't know any movies that were made as the result of contests, or anybody who got their break in the industry from a contest.